Degradation of trichloroethylene (TCE) by Fenton reaction in pyrite suspension was investigated in a closed batch system under various experimental conditions. TCE was oxidatively degraded by OH center dot in the pyrite Fenton system and its degradation kinetics was significantly enhanced by the catalysis of pyrite to form OH center dot by decomposing H2O2. In contrast to an ordinary classic Fenton reaction showing a second-order kinetics, the oxidative degradation of TCE by the pyrite Fenton reaction was properly fitted by a pseudo-first-order rate law. Degradation kinetics of TCE in the pyrite Fenton reaction was significantly influenced by concentrations of pyrite and H2O2 and initial suspension pH. Kinetic rate constant of TCE increased proportionally (0.0030 +/- 0.0001-0.1910 +/- 0.0078 min(-1)) as the pyrite concentration increased 0.21-12.82 g/L. TCE removal was more than 97%, once H2O2 addition exceeded 125 mM at initial pH 3. The kinetic rate constant also increased (0.0160 +/- 0.005-0.0516 +/-0.0029 min(-1)) as H2O2 concentration increased 21-251 mM, however its increase showed a saturation pattern. The kinetic rate constant decreased (0.0516 +/- 0.0029-0.0079 +/- 0.0021 min(-1))as initial suspension pH increased 3-11. We did not observe any significant effect of ICE concentration on the degradation kinetics of TCE in the pyrite Fenton reaction as TCE concentration increased. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.